Virat Kohli vs VVS Laxman

[centurymaker]

Like 53ish at least

Kohli had a career average of 54.97 end of 2019.

Now given the pitches and his own decline, I doubt he will finish any higher than 48.

 

[centurymaker]

True but the annoying thing is, as I have often pointed out here, Virat used to be able to play those shots before. He just shut those shots down himself to avoid risk in his batting around 2016 and now it is coming back to bite him as he seems to be unable to play those shots naturally. The only hope (and it's a very very slim one) is that his LO game and especially the IPL helps him rediscover those shots and gets him to go back to those shots even in tests.

Won't happen. Too old to rediscover. He will stick to what got him his 186.

Sad thing from Indian pov is that he will now stick around for another 3+ years with middling output, whereas his potential replacements could fare much better.

Guys like Jaiswal and Sarfraz need to be brought in for Pujara and Kohli but the two are simply hanging on and as long as India don't lose a big series at home or get close to whitewashed away, these oldies won't be dropped.

 

[silentstriker]

Kohli but its not as far as some would think. VVS on song (especially against the best team of his era, and against some ATG bowlers from that team) was orgasmically good.

 

[silentstriker]

The Indian batting would undoubtedly be Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, and Kohli as the top five. I do not think there is much serious debate to be had there. You have a keeper (likely Pant once he is done), and then Kapil Dev. The rest of the team you can argue about. Probably recency bias but I am starting to think both Ashwin and Jadeja should make it but it is very very hard for me to go past Kumble and Bedi. I do like the idea of a three spinner attack of Ashwin, Jadeja and Kumble. Because all three have Test centuries so you'd have your top ten players with Test centuries...I like the idea of a batting lineup of Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli, Pant, Dev, Jadeja, Ashwin, Kumble, Bumrah. In away games, you'd have to take one of them out for another fast bowler, but still that batting lineup means you wouldn't lose many games - at least one or two of those guys is gonna score big and a bunch of partnerships all the way down.